THRIVING TOGETHER → MODULE 7
MODULE 7 –
Multisolving and Working Across Sectors
The conditions that shape health are interconnected. This module explores how coordinated strategies can address multiple conditions at once.
Multisolving is the practice of addressing multiple Vital Conditions through coordinated strategies.
Instead of approaching challenges one at a time, multisolving looks for ways to:
- Aalign efforts across sectors
- Aaddress shared root causes
- Acreate benefits across multiple areas
WHY MULTISOLVING MATTERS
Many challenges communities face are interconnected—but our approaches often are not.
Multisolving, a term initially coined by Dr. Elizabeth Sawin, co-director of Climate Interactive, involves taking one action that has many benefits. Multisolving is all around us, such as using a single product for multiple different purposes. Multisolving also appears in activities, such as biking, due to the multiple benefits of exercise and being environmentally and economically conscious.
In the context of systems change, multisolving refers to the practice of identifying and advocating for policies and investments that can solve multiple problems across different sectors. This approach underscores the importance of collaboration and shared responsibility amongst community health centers and other cross-sector community-based organizations.
In essence, multisolving can strengthen the ability of all stewards – institutions, residents, community groups – to develop investments, policies, and structures that achieve equitable system change in their communities, and to do so efficiently and resourcefully.
Family Health Centers: Parenting with Love and Logic
Family Health Centers took a multisolving approach to community health, focusing on long-term success through education. The Parenting with Love and Logic courses, which were popular among parents, provided evidence of improved academic performance for students, as well as better nutrition and healthier lifestyles.
Benefits of Multisolving
Break from business as usual in a siloed system: Multisolving encourages us to think and act differently, using the same resources and operating within the same community context.
Make the most of multi-sector partnerships: Multisolving highlights the importance of intentional interdependence, the act of cultivating an understanding of others’ roles. This can enable closer alignment, deeper and more focused working relationships, and stronger mutual accountability.
Strengthen support for innovations that are difficult to enact: Multisolving demonstrates that while no one knows everything, everyone knows something. This sentiment increases momentum and support for innovations that are too large or complex to carry alone.
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services: Housing is Health Care
The YNHS mission is to improve the quality of life and equity in communities by providing accessible health and social services, ending homelessness, and offering learning opportunities for health profession students. In 2005, YNHS created a housing strategy in response to the challenges homeless populations face in receiving medical care. They now provide 141 units of permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families. As of 2022, YNHS provided 109 families experiencing chronic homelessness with permanent supportive housing, maximizing benefits across numerous health drivers.
Shifting from Business as Usual to a New Desired State
From
To
- Lack of innovation and creativity, and incentives for both
- Space and bandwidth to creatively think of the future
- Limited capacity and resources to address an overwhelming number of problems
- Maximize capacity and resources by solving multiple problems with one solution
- Chasing funding through short-term programs that in turn create other problems to solve
- Intentionally investing funds in long-term, cross-sector, transformative opportunities
- Competition between clinics and organizations; “us vs. them” mentality
- Enhanced trust, collaboration, and interdependence across community and a shift to a “we” mentality
Put What You’ve Learned Into Practice
TEAM REFLECTION QUESTIONS
What does multisolving mean to you, and why does it matter for community health centers?
What challenge or opportunity in your community seems most ready for a multisolving approach?
A TOOL YOU CAN USE
Multisolving Worksheet
Use this worksheet to identify opportunities for multisolving in your community. It can help your team map connections, uncover shared root causes, and explore coordinated strategies.
Explore resources and learn more
WHAT WE’VE LEARNED
Use these prompts to explore this concept in practice.
- NMultisolving is about taking one action that creates multiple benefits across systems.
- NMany community challenges are interconnected, even when they are addressed separately.
- NWorking across sectors can strengthen impact, alignment, and resource use.
- NSmall shifts in how we design or coordinate efforts can lead to broader, more sustained outcomes.
- NMoving away from siloed thinking requires intentional collaboration and shared responsibility.